Wael Salloum, Ph.D.
About Wael Salloum, Ph.D.
Wael Salloum, Ph.D., is the Founder and Chief Science Officer at Mendel.ai, where he has worked since 2017. He has a strong academic background in computer science, with multiple degrees from Columbia University, and extensive experience in AI research, particularly in natural language processing and clinical applications.
Work at Mendel
Wael Salloum serves as the Founder and Chief Science Officer at Mendel.ai, a position he has held since 2017. Based in San Jose, CA, he leads research initiatives focused on advancing artificial intelligence applications in clinical settings. Under his leadership, Mendel.ai has been involved in projects that enhance knowledge representation and improve clinical decision-making through AI technologies.
Education and Expertise
Wael Salloum holds multiple degrees in computer science and information systems. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering and Information Systems from the University of Damascus. He furthered his studies at Columbia University, where he achieved both a Master of Science and a Master of Philosophy in Computer Science, specializing in Natural Language Processing. He completed his PhD at Columbia Engineering, focusing on advanced topics in AI, including large language models and knowledge representation.
Background
Prior to his current role, Wael Salloum accumulated diverse experience in academia and industry. He worked as an Assistant Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Kalamoon and served as an IT Manager at Sahara Touristic Complex. His academic career includes positions as a Lecturer and Project Supervisor at the Syrian Virtual University and as a Graduate Research Assistant at Columbia University, where he contributed to DARPA-funded projects.
Research Focus
Wael Salloum's research primarily revolves around enhancing AI capabilities in clinical environments. He explores natural language questioning techniques and incorporates computer vision methods into AI research. His interests include graph neural networks, information retrieval, and the development of hybrid AI systems that combine machine learning, deep learning, and symbolic AI. He aims to improve knowledge acquisition and clinical common sense reasoning within AI frameworks.
Professional Experience
In addition to his role at Mendel.ai, Wael Salloum has held positions at various organizations. He worked as a Senior Research Scientist at EMR.AI and has experience as a freelancer at Spacetoon Online. His extensive background includes teaching and supervising projects at the Syrian Virtual University, contributing to the development of AI applications tailored for clinical texts and electronic medical records.